MANILA, Philippines?Lawmakers are taking with a grain of salt Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio?s claim that running for president in 2010 was God?s calling.

?That?s interesting! I guess everyone can say that. I want to know what God has to say,? Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., a Christian pastor, told reporters.

Nueva Ecija Rep. Eduardo Nonato Joson was skeptical. ?How could that be? So is he like Santino bro?? he said, referring to a local soap opera where a young boy has a direct line to God whom he calls ?bro.?

Joson said Panlilio should realize that in politics, ?it is the human will and not the divine will that will prevail.?

On Tuesday, Panlilio said he was planning to file his candidacy on or before the Nov. 30 deadline. ?God is calling me to run for the presidency,? he said.

Muntinlupa Rep. Rufino Biazon said that while Panlilio was ?blessed? to have a direct line to God, the priest would need no less than a miracle just to catch up with the leading contenders.

?It does not necessarily mean that he will win. Sometimes, God lets us do things not because we will achieve worldly victory but to show that goodness has a place in this world scourged by evil,? Biazon said.

Palace push

Suddenly, Panlillio is getting words of encouragement from Malacañang.

His invocation of God in his election plan wasn?t at all surprising because he?s a ?man of the cloth,? Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Wednesday.

?You know, everything that happens in the universe, it?s God?s call because only the Almighty knows what is the destiny of everyone, of every nation and every event,? Ermita said in a briefing.

Panlilio has been at odds with the administration since he thrashed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?s allies in the 2007 gubernatorial race in Pampanga.

He had crossed swords with provincial officials over the reforms he had introduced, and had exposed Malacañang?s alleged attempt to bribe him amid an impeachment move against Ms Arroyo in late 2007.

If he becomes the next president, Panlilio vowed to prosecute Ms Arroyo for her involvement in anomalies.

The President?s spokespersons had earlier said Panlilio should be gauged by his performance as a governor through reactions from his fellow provincial officials.

State of delusion

One of Pampanga?s bishops Wednesday commented that Panlilio was in a ?state of delusion.?

?I can only pray for him. I think he?s in a state of delusion. I still hope he?ll see the light before it?s too late,? Auxiliary Bishop Pablo Virgilio David told the Inquirer.

?I just wish he?d at least stop saying it?s all for the love of the priesthood. It begins to sound like a political campaign strategy,? the 53-year-old bishop said.

?Perhaps if he had just quietly asked for dispensation, we would have just quietly respected his option. But he wants to have his cake and eat it, too,? he said.

David and Panlilio belong to the socially progressive bloc in the Archdiocese of San Fernando, which has 140 clergymen. During the Marcos dictatorship, both took cudgels for the poor, seen saying Masses for striking workers or farmers demanding for agrarian reform.

Panlilio reaction

Sought for reactions, Panlilio said: ?I thank Bishop Ambo (David) for his prayers. This will surely be of help. I also pray for him that he will be an understanding and not a judgmental pastor. I decided to be a public servant after people convinced me and after going through discernment because I felt God call me to help renew politics.?

Panlilio also assured the bishop that in the two years he was governor, he ?did not fail God.?

?In a sense, collectively we were able to bring back ethical leadership and good governance to the capitol. Now well-meaning people believe I?m being called to go to the national leadership. And I feel God is telling me to go ahead and try,? Panlilio said.

Other priests also asked to run

Fr. Francis Lucas, who recently succeeded Fr. James B. Reuter as head of the media commission of the Catholic Church, said he could relate to Panlilio?s situation because he himself has been repeatedly asked to run for mayor in his parish in Infanta, Quezon.

He said he knew of at least two more priests who have been asked by their parishioners to lead them by running for office.

?But they have not agreed. They were just telling me about it,? he stressed. With reports from Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon, and Dona Pazzibugan